-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- U.S. swimming icon Michael Phelps has confirmed to CNN that he will now retire from competition , having became the most decorated Olympian of all time with six medals at London 2012 .

The man known as `` The Baltimore Bullet '' claimed his 22nd medal by winning gold as part of the U.S. 4 x 100m medley relay team on Saturday , but Phelps confirmed he has no desire to add to that tally in Rio in 2016 .

`` I 'm done , that was my last race and this is my last Olympics , '' confirmed the 27-year-old . `` I 'm ready for the next chapter in my life . ''

Phelps will leave London with four more gold medals , taking his career total to an unparalleled 18 , after delivering a string of performances which silenced a growing number of doubters .

Michael Phelps cements legacy as an all-time great

`` Looking back , I can say I 've done everything I ever wanted to , '' said Phelps , who won medals at three consecutive Olympics after making his debut as a 15-year-old at Sydney 2000 .

`` I do n't think it 's too bad to be able to look back on your career and say that . ''

Ryan Lochte , a winner of two golds in the British capital , was tipped by many to outshine his compatriot , while Yannick Agnel also rose to prominence by winning the 200m freestyle race and anchoring France 's victorious 4 x 200m freestyle relay .

`` Ryan and I like racing each other , '' Phelps said . `` We bring the best out of each other . It 's fun racing him , he 's tough . He swims a lot of events , just like I do . We had the chance to go head-to-head quite a few times . ''

On the future of men 's swimming , Phelps said he is looking forward to taking a back seat and watching new rivalries like the one between Lochte and Agnel develop over the next four years .

`` We saw some amazing times in the pool this year . I said to Yannick that his 200m free was probably one of the top five greatest swims of all time .

`` It 's going to be cool watching these swimmers grow over the next four years and seeing the times they swim . That 's definitely something I 'll stay in tune with and check out what 's going on . ''

One swimmer who has grown at the Games is China 's Ye Shiwen , the 16-year-old who stunned the world when she swam the last 50m of her 400m individual medley heat quicker than Lochte in the corresponding men 's race .

The stunning feat led to suspicions of doping , although there is no evidence to suggest the double Olympic champion has taken any performance-enhancing substance .

`` It 's kind of sad that people have a great swim and that 's the first thing they say , '' said Phelps .

`` People who work hard -- it shows . There are people who just jump to that conclusion sometimes , and it 's not right .

`` Being able to watch her was amazing , I 'm happy I actually out-split her over the last 100 ... almost every guy in the 400 IM got out-split by her . ''

@highlight

Michael Phelps confirms to CNN he will retire from competitive swimming

@highlight

The American is the most decorated Olympian of all time , with 22 medals

@highlight

`` The Baltimore Bullet '' took six medals at London 2012 , including four golds

@highlight

Phelps backs compatriot Ryan Lochte and France 's Yannick Agnel to continue to shine